Senior Spotlight: Michael Keim | Farmington Flyer

By Cameron McAllister, Staff-Writer

UMF Senior Michael Keim (Photo courtesy of Michael Keim)

“ Go for your dreams!” Michael Keim said with a smile from ear to ear almost covered by his mustache. Keim was talking about his time here at the University of Maine at Farmington (UMF) but he couldn’t help but get a little choked up about the thought of it almost being over. “ I have enjoyed every moment of my time here”

Around campus people know him as the hockey player or the student senate vice president.“ Hockey was a big reason why I came here to UMF. I played for 4 years and held every position from Medic to the President.”

“During my 3 terms in office I was the Club Sports Commissioner making sure I represented the club sport athletes in meetings” Keim said while talking about student senate. “ Most importantly I loved protecting student rights on campus.” He is also apart of the men’s lacrosse team and Clefnotes, “The premiere acapella group here in UMF.” Keim said

“ When someone is really involved in campus you can’t help but look up to them” Ray Swaby, a sophomore transfer from Johnson State College, said about looking up to Keim. “ The first day I met Mike he had a story to tell. He walked up to me and gave me a firm handshake, welcoming me to the lacrosse team. It was a friendly face that I really liked on the field.”

Keim, a senior from Veazie, Maine will be graduating in May with a degree in Community Health and although he is graduating from school there is still work to be done. “I have decided to join the United States Navy as well as go to USM and earn my Masters Degree.” Keim said. “I need to temporarily pack up the dozens of UMF shirts, my flowy hair, and my 5 finger vibrams for dress blues, high in tight haircut, and shiny black boots.”

All the fun that Keim was laughing about did come with some downfalls. “ The first time I walked onto campus I didn’t have the best impression. The leaves from the trees were on the ground. The sidewalks were covered in mud and food from Aramark.” He stopped and then laughed as he talked about his dad. “ He always told me don’t judge a book by its cover”

“ I got to know a few students and faculty here at UMF. They smiled, looked me in the eye, gave me a firm handshake, and listened to what I had to say. The people here actually care about each other and actually listen.” Keim explained.

Keim said he had learned a lot not just as a student but also as a person. “I learned here not to be afraid to ask questions to the professors or coaches. There is no such thing as a stupid question.” Keim said. “UMF taught me to be open minded. “

Keim then stopped and laughed as he began to tell a story from his first experience of UMF, Summer Experience. “UMF taught me never to use a highlighter.” Keim couldn’t finish the first sentence without stopping to grin and think back to the first day he was by himself on the UMF campus. “When I came to summer experience they were buying highlighters off of us students because they wanted us to write in our books and write down our ideas to discuss them in class.

Although his time is coming to end very soon he did have some advice for future UMF seniors. “Enjoy every moment you have when you are a senior. It’s the last year in college and you should enjoy it.” Keim said. “Give advice to underclassmen so that they do not make the same mistakes that you did when you were in their age.”

Keim said if people should know anything, “If you can see it then you can be it!”